Το απόγευμα κάναμε πρόβα για τη σχολική γιορτή και κινούμασταν αργά στη σκηνή για να μην κάνουμε λάθη.

In Greek, time expressions like the afternoon, the morning, the evening normally take the definite article:

• Το απόγευμα – the afternoon
• Το πρωί – the morning
• Το βράδυ – the evening

So Το απόγευμα κάναμε πρόβα is the natural way to say In the afternoon we rehearsed.

If you drop the article and say Απόγευμα κάναμε πρόβα, it sounds incomplete or poetic/unusual in modern everyday Greek. You’re much safer always using Το in this kind of time phrase.

Greek often uses the verb κάνω (to do/make) plus a noun instead of one “simple” verb.

Κάνω πρόβα literally means I do a rehearsal, but it functions exactly like I rehearse in English.

Some similar common expressions:

• κάνω μπάνιο – take a bath / have a shower
• κάνω δουλειές – do chores
• κάνω γυμναστική – work out / exercise

So κάναμε πρόβα = we rehearsed (we did a rehearsal).

Formally, κάναμε can be:

• simple past (aorist): we did
• or imperfect: we were doing / used to do

In this sentence, with Το απόγευμα and a specific event, it is naturally understood as simple past:

• Το απόγευμα κάναμε πρόβα… – In the afternoon we rehearsed…

The imperfect meaning (we were rehearsing) would usually be made clear with extra context, but in everyday speech most speakers will simply understand κάναμε πρόβα here as a completed action in the past.

Breakdown:

• για – for (preposition)
• τη – weak form of the feminine singular accusative article την
• σχολική – adjective school, relating to school
• γιορτή – celebration, festivity

So για τη σχολική γιορτή = for the school celebration.

About τη / την:
The “full” form is την, but before many consonants in modern Greek, especially in informal writing, the final -ν is often dropped:

• την Ελλάδα → usually kept (ν before a vowel)
• τη σχολική γιορτή → often written without ν in everyday usage

Both την σχολική γιορτή and τη σχολική γιορτή are understood; the version without ν is very common in modern texts.

Κινούμασταν is:

• verb: κινούμαι (to move)
• voice: middle/passive (many “reflexive-like” verbs use this voice)
• tense: imperfect
• person/number: 1st person plural → we were moving

So κινούμασταν αργά στη σκηνή = we were moving slowly on the stage.

Greek doesn’t say κινήσαμε for “we moved (ourselves)” here. Κινούμαι is already the standard verb for “to move (oneself)” in this context, and its past continuous form is κινούμασταν. The middle/passive form gives it that “we were in motion” feel.

Αργός is the adjective: slow (describing a noun)
Αργά is the adverb: slowly (describing a verb)

In the sentence we are describing how we were moving, so we need an adverb:

• κινούμασταν αργά – we were moving slowly

If you used αργός, you would be describing a noun (e.g. αργός ρυθμός – slow rhythm), not the manner of movement.

Σε is a very common preposition meaning in / on / at (the exact translation depends on context).

With the feminine accusative article τη(ν), it merges:

• σε + τη(ν) → στη(ν)

So:

• σε τη σκηνή → στη σκηνή

Σκηνή means stage (in a theater) or scene, depending on context.
Here, στη σκηνή = on the stage.

In everyday Greek, you almost never say σε τη; you use the contracted form στη.

Same preposition για, two different patterns:

1. για + noun phrase → for (the purpose of / concerning)

   • για τη σχολική γιορτή – for the school celebration

2. για να + verb → introduces a purpose clause (in order to / so that)

   • για να μην κάνουμε λάθη – so that we don’t make mistakes / in order not to make mistakes

So:

• για + noun = “for something”
• για να + verb = “in order to do something”

Greek uses two main negative particles:

• δεν – with indicative forms (normal statements):
  
  • Δεν κάνουμε λάθη. – We don’t make mistakes.
• μη(ν) – with subjunctive, imperative, and some other non‑indicative forms:
  
  • να μην κάνουμε λάθη – (so that) we not make mistakes

In για να μην κάνουμε λάθη, the verb κάνουμε is in the subjunctive, introduced by να, so the correct negative is μην, not δεν.

Formally, κάνουμε (we do / we make) is the same in:

• present indicative:
  
  • Κάνουμε πρόβα. – We are rehearsing / we rehearse.
• present subjunctive:
  
  • να κάνουμε – (that) we do / that we make

You identify the subjunctive by the particle να (or για να, πριν να, etc.) in front of it:

• να κάνουμε → subjunctive
• κάνουμε without να → normally indicative

So in για να μην κάνουμε λάθη, the να (inside για να) tells you κάνουμε is subjunctive, part of a purpose clause.

Λάθος – mistake (neuter singular)
Λάθη – mistakes (neuter plural)

Here we are talking about mistakes in general, not specific, countable ones already known to the listener. Greek often uses a bare plural (no article) in this kind of generic sense:

• να μην κάνουμε λάθη – not to make mistakes (in general)
• να μην κάνουμε τα λάθη αυτά – not to make these mistakes

So: plural because you typically “make mistakes” in the plural, and no article because it’s a general, indefinite idea.

Greek is a pro‑drop language: subject pronouns (εγώ, εσύ, αυτός, εμείς, etc.) are normally omitted because the verb ending already shows the person and number.

• κάναμε – 1st person plural past: we did
• κινούμασταν – 1st person plural past: we were moving
• κάνουμε (with να) – 1st person plural subjunctive: (that) we do

So εμείς is understood from the verb forms and is not needed. You would only add εμείς for emphasis or contrast:

• Εμείς κινούμασταν αργά στη σκηνή. – We were moving slowly on the stage (as opposed to others).